If you were to ask your car where it would want to live, and it just so happened to be a talking car, it would most likely say "Southern California. It's warm there, the roads are fairly decent, and I might get to see a movie star."
If you were to ask it where it wouldn't want to live, it would probaby reply "Detroit."
Or in a broader sense, it wouldn't want to live where it's cold, snowy and just generally yucky. But many of us do live in those conditions, or at least visit.
Winter is very unfriendly to a vehicle. Cold temperatures make it harder for the engine to work properly. Snow and ice limit traction. Potholes damage wheels and tires. Salt causes rust and gravel pits the paint.
But there are things you can do to help your vehicle in this time of duress. The following are easy steps to winterize your car. In fact, they are so easy, a talking car could figure them out! Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Consider using snow tires, where appropriate
Check the tire pressure
Make sure your vehicle's four-wheel drive system is working properly
Change engine oil and adjust the viscosity grade.
Inspect belts and hoses
Inspect wipers and wiper fluid
Check the battery
Check antifreeze mixture
Carry an emergency kit inside your car
Consider using snow tires
The condition of your car's tires is critical during the winter. If the tires are worn -- or if they are high-performance tires -- braking, acceleration and handling are all negatively affected while driving on slippery roads. Because of reduced vehicle capabilities, the likelihood of a crash increases.
If you have the cash, consider buying a set of winter tires. Winter tires are optimized for snow and ice. They aren't magic tires; even with winter tires, your car will still handle worse on slick roads than dry ones. But winter tires help improve traction on slick surfaces more than all-season tires.
Check the tire pressure
Tire pressure is especially important during the winter. Traction is often at a minimum due to wet or snowy conditions. It is critical to have properly inflated tires, as this guarantees the best possible contact between the tire and the road. A properly inflated tire will also help protect against wheel damage that might occur as the vehicle is driven over potholes. Read your owner's manual to find the correct tire pressures.
Because of winter's lower temperatures, the air pressure in a cold tire will drop. Why? Because air is a gas that contracts when it cools. Keep this in mind if you are checking tire pressures. Generally, for every 10 degree Fahrenheit change in ambient temperature, your tire's inflation pressure will change by about 1 pound per square inch (up with higher temperatures and down with lower temperatures).
Make sure your vehicle's four-wheel-drive system is working properly
A big selling point for sport utility vehicles is that they offer four-wheel drive, which improves traction in slippery conditions. But most people don't use their four-wheel drive systems during the summer. And while a four-wheel drive system requires minimal maintenance, it's still a good idea to check that it works properly before the onset of winter.
Make sure the system engages and disengages smoothly, and that there are no strange noises emanating from the drive train when the system is in use. Check to make sure that the transmission and gear oil levels are correct.
If there are multiple drivers for your SUV, make sure each of them knows how to operate the 4WD system. The owner's manual will state at what speeds and in which environments the 4WD can be activated.
Change the engine oil and adjust the viscosity grade
This isn't nearly as hard as it sounds. Viscosity simply refers to how thick or thin the oil is. Tar has a higher viscosity than orange juice, for example. Engine oils are sold with different levels of viscosity. When winter arrives, the outside temperature drops. And just like you, the oil inside your vehicle's engine isn't feeling too perky after sitting in the cold all night.
The colder an oil is, the thicker it will be. A thicker oil doesn't circulate as well in an engine during start-up as a thinner oil would. If the oil is too thick, the engine doesn't get the proper lubrication. Also, dirty oil doesn't circulate as well as clean oil.
To solve this wintertime problem, you can change your vehicle's engine oil to one that is thinner to begin with. Even when the thinner oil is cold, it is still not too thick for proper engine lubrication.
Keep in mind that an engine oil can be too thin.
Determining what type of oil your car should have during the winter is easy. Simply read your vehicle's owner's manual. The manual will list the manufacturer's oil recommendations for different climates. If you have a dealership or local garage perform the oil change, you can ask the manager what type and viscosity of oil they are putting into your vehicle. Pretty much all modern cars have recommended oil grades of 5W-30, 10W-30 or 10W-40. For more information on what these numbers mean, check out www.engineoilinfo.com.
Inspect the belts and hoses
The belts and hoses in modern cars lead long lives. But that doesn't mean that they don't die. Cold temperatures can accelerate the demise of a belt or hose. Before winter starts, have the belts and hoses inspected on your vehicle.
Inspect the wipers and wiper fluid
Visibility is particularly key in winter, as it is often compromised by precipitation, salt buildup on the windshield and reduced daylight. The life expectancy of a wiper blade is one year. If your car's blades are older, replace them.
Also check and fill your wiper-fluid reservoir. A harsh winter storm is the worst possible time to run out of wiper fluid or to discover your blades aren't performing properly.
Check the battery
A battery gives little notice before it kicks off. And it absolutely loves to croak when you can least afford it doing so. Very cold temperatures can reduce a vehicle's battery power by up to 50 percent. If your vehicle battery is older than three years, have it tested at a certified automotive repair facility. Also, make sure the posts and connections are free of corrosion.
Check antifreeze mixture
The ideal mixture of antifreeze (coolant) and water inside your vehicle's radiator is equal parts of each. If the mixture deviates from this norm, then hot- and cold-weather performance can be compromised.
If you were to put pure water in your vehicle's radiator, it would freeze at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. But if you combine the water with an equal amount of antifreeze, the new mixture won't freeze until minus34 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can check the composition of a radiator's mixture by using an antifreeze tester. You can find these at all auto parts stores, and they are inexpensive and easy to use. If the mixture is off, adjust it by adding either coolant or water.
Carry an emergency kit inside the car.
Wintertime requires you to load more junk into the back of your vehicle. But better safe than sorry, right? Things you might want to consider carrying include:
A flashlight, flares and a first-aid kit
Jumper cables, a tool kit and tire chains
A blanket, warm clothes and gloves
Paper towels
A bag of abrasive material such as sand, salt or nonclumping kitty litter. Use this for added traction when a tire is stuck
A snow brush, ice scraper and snow shovel
Extra washer fluid
Extra food and water
